Range connector



Dec. i0, 1940. L UDwlG 2,224,547

RANGE CONNECTOR Filed Dec. l5, 1939 i INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY.

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receive a bare electrical wire.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical range connectors mounted on the end of a cord usually enclosing three conducting wires. These connectors usually have three parallel metal prongs which lit into three slots, each of which encloses an electrical terminal with which the entering prong makes electrical contact. Such range connectors are known in the art in which the prongs are rigidly mounted in some moldable material formed around the inner ends of the prongs and the wire connections thereto.

Among the features of the present invention are: A mounting for the prongs which permits slight movement of the ends of the prongs laterally to facilitate the entrance of the ends of the prongs into the appropriate slots; a rigid disk on one face of the connecting body and which is embedded at the rim in the resilient rubber of which the body is formed by stretching over the periphery of the disk an annular rim formed around an aperture in the side of the body and which. has apertures therein of such size and form as to permit a slight rocking motion of the prongs in their slots or apertures; and slot-shaped recesses in the resilient rubber on the inside of the connector body and openinginto the side of a chamber, the opposite side of which is closed by the disk. in which recesses the inner ends of the prongs are tted, so that the prongs all project outwardly from the outerface of the disk perpendi'fularly and in parallel, but because of the resilient nature of the material of the connector body the ends of the prongs can move. laterally in small degree, which in turn permits the en- Craging ends of the prongs to move enough latei-, ally to permit their facile insertion in the terminal slots. The prongs are prevented from outward or inward'movement by outer and inner shoulders of laterally bent portions therein, but :trips may be cut out on three sides and left unhent to provide in each prong an opening formed transversely between the strip on one side and the bent portions spaced apart transversely on the other side, this opening being sufficient to Wire end in each opening the prongs may be dipped insolder to lock each wire end on its apnrnpriate prong in order to procure a good elecfrcal contact aswell as to secure the Drong and the wire together. But the joints so formed are mounted in the chamber in the connector free from contact with the material of which the connecto'.` is formed. such as resilient rubber which may be similar to that used in automobile tires. The prongs are therefore so mounted that slight After inserting al movement is possible either edgewise or broadside and the outer ends of the prongs are chamfered on all four sides by swedgingso that the resulting structure eases the manual operation of inserting the prongs. Other features of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is made to the drawing which is made a part of this specification in which Figure 1 is a rear View of the terminal. Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view of a prong with the electrical wire in section.

Figure 5 is a front view of a prong. Figure 6 is a front view of the terminal. Figure 7 is a front view looking into the terminal body, with the side disk removed. cFigure 8 is a disk assembly Viewed from the si e.

A terminal body I is molded preferably of resilient insulating material such as the rubber used in the tread of automobile tires or the like, and is of such size that it can be readily grasped in the hand for the insertion of prongs II in the slots of a terminal socket or female member (not shown). This operation has heretofore been tedious and difcult because of the .rigid mounting of the terminal prongs but in my present improvement the ends of the prongs II are sufficiently movable for their quick and facile inser- -tion in the slots of the female member. At one end ofthe body I0 is a neck I2 which has an end opening I3 therein leading into a central chamber I4 within the body Ill (Fig. 3). The'inner rear wall of the body I0 forms one side of the chamber Ill and is provided with three recesses I which are shaped to tightly admit the inner ends of the prongs II (Fig. 7), but to permit the inner ends of the prongs to move laterally slightlv because of the resilient nature of the body I0. The ychamber I4 has a circular opening in the side of .the body I0 opposite the recesses ,I5v and surrounded by an annular rim I6 which forms the outer wall of a groove l'l extending around the opening. An insulating disk I8, which may be cold-molded and rigid, has at front and rear surfaces, a front cylindrical side wall I9 (Fig. 8) of the same size as the inner wall of the rim I6, and a rear side wall extending laterally in an annular rim 2| which ts the groove I1. The disk I8 is placed in the side of the body IIJ to close the side opening by bending the resilient rim I6 outwardly and inserting the rim 2l in the L of the prongs I I, which may .swedging on four sides. quickly and faciiely enter groove I1 to position the outer face ci the disk I8 in the same plane as the outside of the body Il. A usual three-wirecord 22 is introduced into the opening I3 and the bare electrical wires 23 exposed out thru the circular opening in the side of the chamber Il. Each prong II is formed with a laterally projecting bend 24 which provides outer shoulders 23 and inner shoulders 2l (Figs. 4 and 5). A strip 21 formed centrally of each prong II by cuts on three sides which separate the bend 24 lengthwise into twoequal parts extends lengthwise in the same straight line as the body of the prong I I, providing an end or transverse opening for the insertion therein of a bare electrical wire 23 which may be suitably fastened to the prong I I by solder. Three slots 23 are formed in the disk Il and are disposed to lie exactly opposite the three recesses IB when the disk Il is in position in the side of the body Il, but each slot 28 is slightly larger in crosssection than the prong II, which is preferably formed of rigid metal. to permit a slight rocking motion of the prong II in the corresponding slot 28. After each wire 23 is fastened on the appropriate prong II between the bend 24 and the strip 21 by dipping in solder or otherwise, the outer end of each prong II is pushed thru tlv` corresponding slot 28 from the inside of the disk I 8 to form the disk assembly shown in Figure 8. the outer shoulders 25 exactly determining the position ot the prongs II. Thereupon the resilient rim I6 is drawn back. the inner ends of the prongs II positioned in the recesses I l and the disk rim 2| positioned in the groove I1. the perimeter of which is greater than a semicircle but less than a circle and opposite the end opening I3. The inner shoulders 23of theirongs I' f^rm stops for checking, inward flexing oi' tb side wall of the body II in which the recesses I5 are formed. It is now obvious that when the terminal body I3 is grasped in the hand and brought up to the female member the outer ends be chamfered by the corresponding slots because of the yieldable mounting of the prongs II in the body Il.

Having shown and described a preferred form of my invention and realizing that. in view of my disclosure, many changes in material or parts. substitutions or omissions of parts, can be readily made by those skilled in the art, I do not limit myself to the exact form or material disclosed herein.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector for a range cord set comprising in combination, a resilient insulating body oblate in form. a chamber in said body. an end opening into said chamber for the end of a cord set. a rigid disk in one side' of the body forming 'a closure for one side of said chamber. an annular groove in the body in which the rim of the disk engages-the outer wall of the groove being an annular rim stretchable over the periphery of the disk to secure the disk In the body. aper- -tures in said disk. grooves in the opposite side wall of the chamber aligned with the apertures. and a plurality of metal prongs mounted in and smaller in cross-section than said apertures to permit slight rocking motion of said prongs therein and having their inner ends mountedin said grooves.

2. An electrical connector for a range cord set comprising in combination, a resilient insulating body oblate in form, a chamber in said body, an end opening into said chamber for the end oi a cord set, a rigid disk in one side of the body forming a closure for one side of said chamber, an

annular groove in the body in which the rim of the disk engages, the outer wall of the groove being an annular rim stretchable over the periphery 0i the dtsk to secure the disk in the body, apertures in said disk, grooves in the opposite wall of the chamber aligned with said apertures, and a plurality of metal prongs mounted in and smaller in cross-section than said apertures to permit slight rocking motion of said prongs therein and having their inner ends mounted in said grooves, the parts of the prongs within the chamber having lateral bends forming outer and inner shoulders.

3. An electrical connector for a range cord set comprising in combination| a resilient insulating body oblate in form, a chamber in said body, an end opening into said chamber for the end of a cord set, a rigid disk in one side of said body forming a closure for one side of said chamber, an annular, groove in the body in which the rim of the disk engages. the outer wall of the groove being an annular rim stretchable over the periphery oi' the disk to secure the disk in the body, apertures in said disk, grooves in the opposite inner wall of the chamber aligned with said apertures. and a plurality of metal prongs mounted in and smaller in cross-section than .said apertures to permit slight rocking motion of said prongs thereinhaving ltheir inner ends mounted in said grooves, the parts of the prongs within the chamber having lateral bends forming outer and inner shoulders, and also having strips opposite the bends in each prong to form a transverse Vopening to receive the bare end of an electrical wire.

4. An electrical connector for a range cord set comprising in combination, a resilient insulating body, oblate in form, a chamber in said body, an end opening in said body and connecting with said chamber adapted to receive the end of a cord set, a rigid disk in one side of the body forming a closure for one side of the, chamber, said disk having an inner peripheral iiange,an annular groove in the body in which the ilange of the disk engages, said groove lying opposite the body end aperture and having a perimeter greater than a half circle but less than a full circle so that the disk is facilely insertable in the groove. the outer wall of the groove being an annular rim stretchable over the flange of the disk to secure the disk in the body, apertures in said disk, grooves in the oppomte side wall of the chamber aligned with the disk apertures, and a plurality of metal prongs mounted in and smaller in cross-section than said apertures to permit slight rocking motion of said prongs therein and' having their inner ends mounted in said grooves.

LOUIS LUDWIG. 

